Har-kī-Paurī — Viṣṇu's footprint

Har-kī-Paurī — Viṣṇu's footprint

Haridwar — the first of the 7 Sapta-Moksha-Purīs

Location

• Place: Haridwar, Haridwar, Uttarakhand (29.9457°N, 78.1642°E)

Story & Significance

Har-kī-Paurī (Lord's Footprint) — a ghat on the Ganges at Haridwar where Vishnu is believed to have left his footprint. The evening Gaṅgā Ārati at 6 PM is watched by ~20,000 pilgrims nightly. Haridwar is one of the 7 Sapta-Moksha-Purīs and hosts the Kumbh Mela every 12 years (last 2021). Bathing here is said to free the soul from rebirth. The Brahma Kund is the exact spot where a drop of Amṛta fell from the celestial pot.

Worship & Festival

Daily aarati (dawn + dusk); abhisheka; flower and coconut offerings; evening deepa-dhyana. Annual festival features procession, special darshan, distribution of prasadam, and gathering of community.

Why This Entry Matters

Each district of India has its own gods, stories, and sacred places. Cataloguing them — with real coordinates and authentic local tradition — respects the richness of India's lived religious diversity.